Shades Of Puffing Billy

Made by the Commonwealth Film Unit 1967. Directed by Antonio Colacino. The Puffing Billy is a narrow gauge railway that runs between the towns of Belgrave and Emerald in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria. Supported and operated by volunteer railway enthusiasts, with the assistance of the Victorian Government Railways, the Puffing Billy line has become famous throughout Australia. Shades of Puffing Billy takes a light-hearted look at the problems of operating the railway. People leave their jobs for the day, hanging up doctors' coats and workmen's overalls to become conductors, station masters and ticket collectors. Warm and witty, this film is an affectionate salute to the people who keep this little railway running and to locomotive enthusiasts everywhere.
See a production still from this film here: www.flickr.com/photos/nfsa/870...

[@EastsideRandomiser]

The fact that music is done by Don Burrows made this film awesome. :)

[@ryannconnell9202]

I got a glimpse of my childhood home and car in the background of one scene! Wonderful memories.

[@NFSAFilms]

Nice.

[@marknelson5929]

That would have to be one of the best short films I've ever seen. So creative in how it was shot!

[@gslim7337]

Gosh this brings back memories. I grew up in Tecoma and would have been just starting prep when this movie was made. I do have to laugh about the approach towards OH&S at that time. Legs hanging out. Water getting splashed around and just wandering around the track. No problem! LOL.

[@xr6lad]

I thought they still did that. No one does that I know of with the kids like that.

[@NFSAFilms]

32Emerald you are quite right re narrow gauge. The synopsis is the original synopsis from the film makers and is presented as an archival document alongside the film. Therefore, as you say, the start and end of the journey is correct at the time of the film production.

[@ralphcleary2224]

NFSA Films

[@timthewarlord2304]

I remember this

[@johnhumphreys9774]

Notice a couple icecreams are not avaliable around today. A dixy and the Two and One. I wonder if the pie the young lad is eating is a Four and Twenty?

[@xr6lad]

As in Dixie cup? I’ve definitely seen them in milk bar Ice cream cabinets here in Victoria. Peter’s Ice cream. As I’ve had them in occasion . Or are you thinking a different ice cream?

[@brendanwilliams7291]

Could anyone imagine if the Climax locomotive was used to haul excursion trains? That would be interesting.

[@johnd8892]

It does from time to time run specially booked trains. In normal service the 13 kph top speed is a bit limiting on timetabling complications and length of trip.

[@chreign5928]

Jesus, how much food did that kid need hahaha.

[@adriankingston4338]

Well its a long trip to gembrook and back 😄 🍌🥧🍫🥤

[@Notconceitedjustbetterthanyou]

Little porker

[@adriankingston4338]

@Aussie Pom holy shit so all that scoffin was on a shorter trip ! 😲 Arrrmmm num nom ..... puts cookie monster to shame hahahaha !

[@xr6lad]

@@adriankingston4338 yea and it looks as if they purposely choose the chubby/solid kid to be the eater as well. They weren’t subtle back then!

[@Ravaloxianthunderbird]

I'll be working for Puffing Billy in a couple of weeks, as a volunteer :D

[@adriankingston4338]

Are you still working at puffing billy ?

[@Notconceitedjustbetterthanyou]

That’s not working if you’re volunteering

[@jashugg]

@@Notconceitedjustbetterthanyou nonsense! It’s bloody hard work firing a steam loco or doing track work, whether you are paid or not!

[@xr6lad]

@@Notconceitedjustbetterthanyou our rural firemen (the CFA) in Australia are volunteers as well. I assume in your small world; fighting a forest fire isn’t working either?

[@SonicFascinators]

Beautiful!

[@NFSAFilms]

@EastsideRandomiser Yes Don did a lot of sound tracks for the Commonwealth Film Unit. Always great.

[@g_e_o_m9369]

Hi NFSA 13 year late on the comment but were the music tracks or the sheet music ever preserved separately from the films and are they able to be sourced from the archive? The jazzy tune in this film has lived in my head as my go to melody when I whistle while I work for about 25 years now.

[@brendanwilliams7291]

How much does the boy in the red shirt eat in this film, an ice cream, a pie, a banana, a chocolate bar and an apple, that’s a lot to eat in the film.

[@johnd8892]

Built at the once mighty Newport Workshops as per 2:35 .

[@deadchannel733]

Plot Twist: The Kid Eating In The Red Shirt Is Younger Nikocado Avocado.